Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered outside the gate. Therefore, let us go forth to him outside the camp, bearing his reproach. For we have no continuing city here, but we seek one to come.
Select a thought to read by choosing a collection, the month, and then the day:
From a sermon by Preacher Clark at Grandma’s house, 1970
“Is any sick among you?Let him call for the elders of the congregation, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up, and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.”
James 5:14-15
Healing and forgiveness are part of the same mercy. Much is said, and rightly so, about the cross and the forgiveness of sins that came by it. But Roman soldiers bound Jesus to a whipping post as much as they nailed him to the cross, and it is “by his stripes we are healed”.
“I believe in what Jesus accomplished on the cross!” is an oft-heard confession. But only rarely do we hear the confession, “I believe in what Jesus accomplished at the whipping post!” Everything Jesus suffered was for our blessing, not just what he suffered the last few hours of his life. Healing is as much a part of the gospel as is forgiveness. And that is the truth behind Preacher Clark’s message that day. He said, “You know, there is no greater proof in your life, when you’re sick, that your soul is right with God than for you to be healed.”
Sickness isn’t always mentioned in the Bible as evidence that someone has sinned, but it is very often associated with sin and rebelliousness, and that is why being healed is often closely associated with being forgiven. If we fall into some sickness or trouble, we need to get alone and talk to God. He may think we need forgiveness and is trying to get our attention so that we will seek it.
We desire the whole gospel, not just the part with which we are familiar.